I Interact With Certain Sections Of The Society. My Views Represent That Category. I Loath Absolute Generalisation.

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Archive | August 2012

It has been round-about six months since I started blogging my personal views. I have had lot of encouragement and surprisingly, most of it has been from people I don’t even know. For example, almost one-fourth of all-time viewers of my blog are from the USA but I hardly know ten people there and they don’t even know I blog.

There are uncountable posts on internet stating why you should blog, but the paramount question is “Why should you READ blogs?”. Blog writing/reading culture hasn’t really evolved in India as yet. Blame it on lack of infrastructure, but that is just an excuse. Reading, as a habit, is not instilled in our Indian minds. We choose to chat on Facebook or crib on Twitter over reading some good article.

Most beings haven’t explored what “blog-world” can offer to an individual. There are blog-posts on every imaginable subject possible. Whatever interests you, you can always find excellent posts relating to it. You can interact with someone who has already gone through what you are going through. Ever bought something you are not happy with? Ever worked in a famous company only to be disappointed by the work-culture? You should have read some reviews/experiences about it on the “blog-world”.

It is an established notion now that reading is essential. What you read, is secondary. Similarly, I believe, reading blog is foremost. Now whether you follow a Shashi Tharoor or a Swaminomics or a brooding photo-artist, that is secondary. The fact the you are ready to broaden your horizon and ready to know more about the world surrounding you is important. Don’t follow any particular blog if nothings appeals to your palate. But, once in a while, Google a topic, choose “Blog” category and read whatever interests you. You can find way better articles than the ones in the editorial section of any leading newspaper.

Whenever we moot over numerous cities of India and otherwise, I always wonder the type of city I would want to settle down in.

Will I prefer a Mumbai over a Banglore, a Chandigarh over a Jaipur, a Baroda over a NY or probably Paris over Ohio? You might allege that these cities are too different to be compared. Of course, how can one compare glamour and art of Paris to naturally beautiful Ohio? How do you juxtapose cities anyway? I think cities should be categorized based of what majority of the residents do for a living and which age group do majority people belong to. Other factors like climate, economy, infrastructure etc., they lead to this categorization.

Some people like big and happening cities where you have complete freedom from nosy neighbors, neighbors have too much dirt on their own sleeves so as to dig up yours. Some, on the other hand, like old cities where the way of living is still traditional and people are genuinely interested in each other’s life (and influence each other’s decisions) which ultimately means smaller cities with limited development and limited options for everything.

The question remains the same: To be a Big fish in the Small pond OR To be a Small fish in a Big Pond. Would you like to live in a big city where you have access to the best of the coffee shops and malls and beaches OR will you prefer a comparatively smaller country side city/town with limited options but, all the same, it is a place where you have an identity of your own, where you are not just another being.

Surely, there has to be a balance. Not many choose to live in a typical Indian village (over 80% people will know you no matter what) or a typical Upper East Manhattan (Unless you own some MNC, hardly 1% people will recognize you by face, forget knowing your name), but what does your choice inclines to – Big Fish in Small Pond OR Small Fish in Big Pond?